What can hypokalemia result in?

Hypokalemia, which is defined as a lower-than-normal level of potassium in the bloodstream, can have significant effects on the body, particularly concerning muscle function and cardiac health. The primary reason the outcome of muscle weakness and death is recognized is due to the critical role potassium plays in converting electrical signals in muscle cells, including those in the heart.

When potassium levels are low, muscle cells may not receive sufficient stimuli to contract properly, leading to muscle weakness or paralysis. In severe cases, this lack of contraction can affect the heart, leading to arrhythmias or potentially fatal cardiac events. Therefore, the consequences of hypokalemia can be dire—resulting in muscle weakness and, in extreme circumstances, death.

While the other options list symptoms that can be linked to various conditions, they are not directly associated with hypokalemia in the same profound way. Severe dehydration and hypertension are more related to fluid balance rather than potassium levels. Anxiety and confusion are associated with a different set of metabolic imbalances, and fatigue and dyspnea, while possible symptoms in certain cases, do not encompass the severe implications that muscle weakness and risk of death present in hypokalemia.